Phalaenopsis plant named ‘MI02648’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis plant named ‘MI02648’, characterized by its upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate; strong and flexible flowering stems; compact and semi-erect leaves; freely flowering habit with typically two inflorescences per plant, each inflorescence with numerous flowers; bright yellow-colored flowers with reddish orange-colored stripes that resist fading; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Phalaenopsis hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘MI02648’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘MI02648’.

The new Phalaenopsis plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Lochristi, Belgium. The objective of the breeding program is to develop new freely flowering Phalaenopsis plants with good leaf shape and relatively large flowers with unique and attractive flower coloration.

The new Phalaenopsis plant originated from a cross-pollination by the Inventor in September, 2016 in Lochristi, Belgium of a proprietary selection of Phalaenopsis hybrida identified as code number PHM00322, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Phalaenopsis hybrida identified as code number PH02885, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Phalaenopsis plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination grown in a controlled greenhouse environment in Lochristi, Belgium in May, 2019.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phalaenopsis plant by in vitro meristem propagation in a controlled environment in Lochristi, Belgium since August, 2020 has shown that the unique features of this new Phalaenopsis plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Phalaenopsis have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘M102648’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘M102648’ as a new and distinct Phalaenopsis plant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate.     -   3. Strong and flexible flowering stems.     -   4. Compact and semi-erect leaves.     -   5. Freely flowering habit with typically two inflorescences per         plant, each inflorescence with numerous flowers.     -   6. Bright yellow-colored flowers with reddish orange-colored         stripes that resist fading.     -   7. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Phalaenopsis can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis flower two weeks earlier than         plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis produce twice as many flowers         per inflorescence as plants of the female parent selection.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Phalaenopsis are bright yellow         in color with reddish orange-colored stripes whereas flowers of         plants of the female parent selection are yellow in color with         greyed orange-colored spots.

Plants of the new Phalaenopsis can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Flower buds of plants of the new Phalaenopsis are solid         yellowish green in color whereas flower buds of plants of the         male parent selection are yellowish green in color with         violet-colored stripes.     -   2. Central lobe of the labellum of plants of the new         Phalaenopsis are trullate in shape whereas central lobe of the         labellum of plants of the male parent selection are triangular         in shape.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Phalaenopsis are bright yellow         in color with reddish orange-colored stripes whereas flowers of         plants of the male parent selection are white in color with         violet-colored stripes.

Plants of the new Phalaenopsis can be compared to plants of Phalaenopsis hybrida ‘Fuller's Secret’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Phalaenopsis differ primarily from plants of ‘Fuller's Secret’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis have slightly smaller flowers         than plants of ‘Fuller's Secret’.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Phalaenopsis are bright yellow         in color with reddish orange-colored stripes whereas flowers of         plants of ‘Fuller's Sunset’ are yellow in color without stripes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Phalaenopsis plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Phalaenopsis plant.

The photograph at the top of the sheet (FIG. 1 ) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘MI02648’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet (FIG. 2 ) is a close-up view of typical flowers of ‘MI02648’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the winter in 12-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Lochristi, Belgium and under cultural practices typically used in commercial Phalaenopsis production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 29° C. and light levels ranged from 150 Watt/m² to 375 Watt/m². Plants were 69 weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Phalaenopsis hybrida ‘MI02648’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary selection of Phalaenopsis hybrida             identified as code number PHM00322, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Proprietary selection of Phalaenopsis hybrida             identified as code number PH02885, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By in vitro meristem propagation.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About nine to ten weeks at             temperatures about 26° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About ten to eleven weeks at             temperatures about 26° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 140 to             160 days at temperatures about 26° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 150 to             180 days at temperatures about 26° C.         -   Root description.—Thick, fleshy; typically grey green in             color; actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizer, substrate             temperature and age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Small amount of branching; sparse. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Herbaceous epiphyte; upright             plant habit with typically two inflorescences per plant,             each inflorescence with numerous flowers; monopodial;             vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate.         -   Plant height, substrate level to top of foliar plane.—About             15 cm.         -   Plant height, substrate level to top of             inflorescences.—About 55 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 42 cm. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement and quantity.—Distichous, simple; sessile; about             eight leaves per plant.         -   Length.—About 17 cm.         -   Width.—About 8.5 cm.         -   Aspect.—Semi-erect.         -   Shape.—Elliptic to slightly oblanceolate.         -   Apex.—Unequal obtuse.         -   Base.—Sheathing.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth,             glabrous; moderately glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Camptodromous.         -   Color.—When opening and fully expanded leaves, upper             surface: Close to 137A; venation, close to 137A. When             opening and fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to             137C; venation, close to 137C. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance and flowering habit.—Showy zygomorphic flowers             arranged on axillary branched racemes; typically two             inflorescences per plant; each inflorescence with about 12             to 13 flowers; flowers face outwardly on arching             inflorescences supported by upright peduncles; flowers with             three petals, two lateral petals and one center petal             transformed into a labellum and three sepals.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Time to flower.—Plants begin flowering about 17 weeks after             an inductive cooling period; flowers open about five weeks             after flower buds develop.         -   Flower longevity.—Long flowering period, individual flowers             maintain good substance for about eleven weeks on the plant;             flowers not persistent.         -   Inflorescence length (lowermost flower to inflorescence             apex).—About 25 cm.         -   Inflorescence width.—About 15 cm by 42 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Height: About 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 cm.             Shape: Ovate. Color: Close to 154C to 154D.         -   Flower diameter.—About 8.5 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 2.8 cm.         -   Petals, quantity and arrangement.—Three, two lateral petals             and one center petal transformed into a labellum.         -   Lateral petals.—Length: About 3.5 cm. Width: About 3.1 cm.             Shape: Flabellate. Apex: Rounded. Margin: Entire. Texture             and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous,             velvety; matte. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper             surface: Close to 3C; radiating stripes, close to 34A; color             does not change with subsequent development. When opening             and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 4B; color does not             change with subsequent development.         -   Labella.—Appearance: Tri-lobed with two lateral lobes and a             central lobe. Length: About 1.9 cm. Width: About 1.6 cm.             Shape, lateral lobes: Oblanceolate. Shape, central lobe:             Trullate. Apex, lateral lobes: Obtuse. Apex, central lobe:             Mucronate with two short, narrow and recurved cirrose tips.             Margins, lateral and central lobes: Entire. Texture and             luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous,             moderately velvety; matte. Callosities: Located at the base             of the labellum and attachment point of the lateral petals;             about 5 mm in length, about 4 mm in width and about 3 mm in             height. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface:             Lateral lobes: Close to 14A and 155D; center, close to 81B.             Central lobe: Center, close to 34B; towards the base, close             to 14A; towards the apex, close to 81B. Callosities: Close             to 14A. When opening and fully opened, lower surface:             Lateral and central lobes: Close to 14B and 155D; towards             the apex, close to 81B.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Three, two lower lateral             sepals and one upper dorsal sepal. Length, lateral sepal:             About 4.3 cm. Width, lateral sepals: About 2.3 cm. Length,             dorsal sepal: About 4 cm. Width, dorsal sepal: About 2.4 cm.             Shape, lateral sepals: Ovate. Shape, dorsal sepal: Elliptic.             Apex, lateral sepals: Bluntly acute. Apex, dorsal sepal:             Obtuse. Base, lateral and dorsal sepals: Acute to obtuse.             Margin, lateral and dorsal sepals: Entire. Texture and             luster, lateral and dorsal sepals, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous, velvety; matte. Color, lateral and dorsal             sepals: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close             to 4B. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close             to 1A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 59 cm. Diameter: About 5.5 mm.             Strength: Strong, somewhat flexible. Aspect: Mostly upright.             Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: Close to             144A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 4.3 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 80° from peduncle             axis. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color:             Close to 145A and 2D.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Column length: About 1 cm.             Column width: About 6 mm. Column color: Close to NN155D.             Pollinia quantity: Two. Pollinia diameter (per two             pollinia): About 2 mm. Pollinia color: Close to 24A.             Gynoecium: Stigma length: About 3 mm. Stigma width: About             3 mm. Stigma shape: Reniform. Stigma color: Close to NN155D.             Ovary length: About 1.25 cm. Ovary diameter: About 2 mm.             Ovary color: Close to 2D. Seeds and fruits: To date, seed             and fruit development have not been observed on plants of             the new Phalaenopsis. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Phalaenopsis     have not been shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Phalaenopsis plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Phalaenopsis have been     observed to tolerate high temperatures of about 40° C. and suitable     for USDA Hardiness Zone 10. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Phalaenopsis plant named ‘MI02648’ as illustrated and described. 